2013 Head Speeds

[darklore009]

from the top, it has a box beam, when going down towards the throat, it has the flat beam

[TennisJC]

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

Better question is Are these really good for serving ? Last head Instincts were pretty powerful rackets but for some reason they weren't very good when serving.

I felt like returns and volleys were better, but serving was a little slower for me personally. But i was able to hit the wide slice serve on the deuce court better as a righty with both graphene rackets...

Not sure i am in love with the colors (black was awesome but they wont let me keep it i bet)... and the graphene ad is very vague... Big G.. as nobody i talked to understood what graphene is exactly without giving a mini-chemistry lecture

I cannot post links but on 1/11 youtube and full review article will be released on fri at midnight, enjoy!

[mike_l]

all the specs on racquetfinder

[mike_l]

Head YOUTEK Graphene Speed Pro

Head Size: 100 sq. in. / 645.16 sq. cm.
Length: 27in / 68.58cm
Strung Weight: 11.7oz / 331.69g
Balance: 6 pts HL
Swingweight: 328
Stiffness: 68
Beam Width: 22.5mm / 22.5mm / 21.5mm /
Composition: d30 / Graphene
Power Level: Low
Stroke Style: Full
Swing Speed: Fast
Racquet Colors:
Black/ White
Grip Type: Hydrosorb Pro
String Pattern:
18 Mains / 20 Crosses
Mains skip: None
Two Pieces
Shared Holes: 8T 9T 8H 9H
String Tension: 48-57 pounds


Head YOUTEK Graphene Speed MP

Head Size: 100 sq. in. / 645.16 sq. cm.
Length: 27in / 68.58cm
Strung Weight: 11oz / 311.84g
Balance: 3 pts HL
Swingweight: 320
Stiffness: 66
Beam Width: 22.5mm / 22.5mm / 21.5mm /
Composition: d30 / Graphene
Power Level: Low
Stroke Style: Full
Swing Speed: Fast
Racquet Colors:
White/ Black
Grip Type: Hydrosorb Pro
String Pattern:
16 Mains / 19 Crosses
Mains skip: None
Two Pieces
Shared Holes: 7T 8T 7H 8H
String Tension: 50-60 pounds

[XFactorer]

Originally Posted by mike_l

Head YOUTEK Graphene Speed Pro

Head Size: 100 sq. in. / 645.16 sq. cm.
Length: 27in / 68.58cm
Strung Weight: 11.7oz / 331.69g
Balance: 6 pts HL
Swingweight: 328
Stiffness: 68
Beam Width: 22.5mm / 22.5mm / 21.5mm /
Composition: d30 / Graphene
Power Level: Low
Stroke Style: Full
Swing Speed: Fast
Racquet Colors:
Black/ White
Grip Type: Hydrosorb Pro
String Pattern:
18 Mains / 20 Crosses
Mains skip: None
Two Pieces
Shared Holes: 8T 9T 8H 9H
String Tension: 48-57 pounds


Head YOUTEK Graphene Speed MP

Head Size: 100 sq. in. / 645.16 sq. cm.
Length: 27in / 68.58cm
Strung Weight: 11oz / 311.84g
Balance: 3 pts HL
Swingweight: 320
Stiffness: 66
Beam Width: 22.5mm / 22.5mm / 21.5mm /
Composition: d30 / Graphene
Power Level: Low
Stroke Style: Full
Swing Speed: Fast
Racquet Colors:
White/ Black
Grip Type: Hydrosorb Pro
String Pattern:
16 Mains / 19 Crosses
Mains skip: None
Two Pieces
Shared Holes: 7T 8T 7H 8H
String Tension: 50-60 pounds

Sounds like at least the d30 material is working out for them unlike the innegra or the flexpoints.

[corners]

Originally Posted by mike_l

Head YOUTEK Graphene Speed Pro

Head Size: 100 sq. in. / 645.16 sq. cm.
Length: 27in / 68.58cm
Strung Weight: 11.7oz / 331.69g
Balance: 6 pts HL
Swingweight: 328
Stiffness: 68
Beam Width: 22.5mm / 22.5mm / 21.5mm /
Composition: d30 / Graphene
Power Level: Low
Stroke Style: Full
Swing Speed: Fast
Racquet Colors:
Black/ White
Grip Type: Hydrosorb Pro
String Pattern:
18 Mains / 20 Crosses
Mains skip: None
Two Pieces
Shared Holes: 8T 9T 8H 9H
String Tension: 48-57 pounds


Head YOUTEK Graphene Speed MP

Head Size: 100 sq. in. / 645.16 sq. cm.
Length: 27in / 68.58cm
Strung Weight: 11oz / 311.84g
Balance: 3 pts HL
Swingweight: 320
Stiffness: 66
Beam Width: 22.5mm / 22.5mm / 21.5mm /
Composition: d30 / Graphene
Power Level: Low
Stroke Style: Full
Swing Speed: Fast
Racquet Colors:
White/ Black
Grip Type: Hydrosorb Pro
String Pattern:
16 Mains / 19 Crosses
Mains skip: None
Two Pieces
Shared Holes: 7T 8T 7H 8H
String Tension: 50-60 pounds

Head's marketing for this line says that the ultralight/ultrastiff graphene material allows them to redistribute weight in a beneficial manner. However, the weight distribution is easily discerned from looking at the above specs, and there is nothing new here. There are many racquets on the market with specs very similar, or even identical, to the ones above. I call BS on Head here.

[Bartelby]

They say they took weight fom the middle by using graphene there and moved it towards either end and from the swingweight specs they've done it, although graphene wasn't really necessary to achieve this end.

In any event, it's a better spec than the previous versions, but hopefully the feel is still good as the ig seems to have disappeared.

[corners]

Originally Posted by Bartelby

They say they took weight fom the middle by using graphene there and moved it towards either end and from the swingweight specs they've done it, although graphene wasn't really necessary to achieve this end.

If you like your frames a little more polarized and stiffer than average I guess these are nice. But like you say, graphene isn't necessary to achieve these specs. There might be a little bit of the stuff in the layup but I reckon it's just a token amount. Just like Bab's recent GT bamboozle. It's not like is any big deal, just typical marketing BS. But people actually believe this stuff, which is kind of unfortunate.

[JDMasFCK]

For the Graphene Speed Pro, they just increased the weight a little bit and as a result the stiffness increased by 4.

[Bartelby]

High power for a low power frame:


„Relativ niedriges Gewicht, dafür erstaunlich stabil. Vor allem begeisterte aber die hohe Power in Verbindung mit super Kontrolle.“

[mrmo1115]

Was told by a TW Customer Service member that Head made it a priority to make the Speed Pro (315 g) feel a bit more solid and stable yet keep it relatively in the same weight, thus the SW going up. I was also told that one of the guys who has taken it out to the courts already prefers the old IG version to this new one. I never gave the old IG version a fair test so it'll be interesting to see how I like the new one. The only history I have the Speed was the time I had the old all white Youtek Speed.. and my god it was just terrible.

[JDMasFCK]

Originally Posted by mrmo1115

Was told by a TW Customer Service member that Head made it a priority to make the Speed Pro (315 g) feel a bit more solid and stable yet keep it relatively in the same weight, thus the SW going up. I was also told that one of the guys who has taken it out to the courts already prefers the old IG version to this new one. I never gave the old IG version a fair test so it'll be interesting to see how I like the new one. The only history I have the Speed was the time I had the old all white Youtek Speed.. and my god it was just terrible.

Hope the Speed Graphene Pro has good feel to it like the IG does despite the Graphene being heavier and more stable. Looking forward to playing with it.

[parasailing]

Originally Posted by mrmo1115

Was told by a TW Customer Service member that Head made it a priority to make the Speed Pro (315 g) feel a bit more solid and stable yet keep it relatively in the same weight, thus the SW going up. I was also told that one of the guys who has taken it out to the courts already prefers the old IG version to this new one. I never gave the old IG version a fair test so it'll be interesting to see how I like the new one. The only history I have the Speed was the time I had the old all white Youtek Speed.. and my god it was just terrible.

I wasn't impressed with the IG version of the Speed MP as it was still not as solid compared to the PSTGT so if the IG is actually better than the Graphenne one, I will pass.

I do like the paint job update to the racquet but hopefully they make it more solid compared to the IG Speed MP.

[Bartelby]

Well Tennis Magazin says its astonishingly stable for its relatively low weight, but high powered so maybe some will not like that although TW reviewers disliked the previous version's low power.

[mrmo1115]

Originally Posted by parasailing

I wasn't impressed with the IG version of the Speed MP as it was still not as solid compared to the PSTGT so if the IG is actually better than the Graphenne one, I will pass.

I do like the paint job update to the racquet but hopefully they make it more solid compared to the IG Speed MP.

Well that was the opinion of the person who took it out. They told me that the weight distribution in the new Speed is different than the IG.. more weight in the head to make it more solid and give it more plow through. Just hearing what Head did to improve the racquet makes me interested... I don't know why the person prefers the old IG to the new one if they make it a goal to solidify the feeling of the racquet and make it more stable. Maybe he liked how whippy the old IG felt?

PS I think we should keep our hopes up because the static weight and SW have both increased therefore it must mean a much more stable and solid feel. On another note I took out the Blades for a hit and I found that the 18/20 is the one I prefer more, but I just don't know if its a racquet I would switch to. I think I want to test the Speed and then compare the two.

[dje31]

In case anyone's interested, the Graphene Instinct specs are also on Racquet Finder now.

The Instinct Rev looks like a potentially decent platform, as it's stupid light in stock form.

And can its stiffness really be as low as 59? Gotta be a typo...I'd guess that should read 69, given where all the others lie.

Not crazy about the 3pts HH balance, but a leather grip and some well-placed lead tape could work wonders.

[smiley_face]

[quote=mike_l;7104378]Head YOUTEK Graphene Speed Pro

Head Size: 100 sq. in. / 645.16 sq. cm.
Length: 27in / 68.58cm
Strung Weight: 11.7oz / 331.69g
Balance: 6 pts HL
Swingweight: 328
Stiffness: 68
Beam Width: 22.5mm / 22.5mm / 21.5mm /
Composition: d30 / Graphene
Power Level: Low
Stroke Style: Full
Swing Speed: Fast
Racquet Colors:
Black/ White
Grip Type: Hydrosorb Pro
String Pattern:
18 Mains / 20 Crosses
Mains skip: None
Two Pieces
Shared Holes: 8T 9T 8H 9H
String Tension: 48-57 pounds


But the leaked catalog says it's 22mm straight beam?

[parasailing]

Originally Posted by mrmo1115

PS I think we should keep our hopes up because the static weight and SW have both increased therefore it must mean a much more stable and solid feel. On another note I took out the Blades for a hit and I found that the 18/20 is the one I prefer more, but I just don't know if its a racquet I would switch to. I think I want to test the Speed and then compare the two.

I will give the new Speed a shot anyways because I am a racket junkie and hope that it plays better than the IG version which was better than the Youtek version but still not as solid as the PSTGT.

I haven't had a chance to try the Blade 18x20 but I am starting to get use to the 16x19 so I might just stick with that. I love everything about the 16x19 and will give it some more time to see if I can adjust. I just love how solid it feels and the generous sweet spot on it though slices are not as effective as the PSTGT. I will take both out for a test this weekend with both string up with the same string setup to get a better comparison.

[mrmo1115]

Originally Posted by parasailing

I will give the new Speed a shot anyways because I am a racket junkie and hope that it plays better than the IG version which was better than the Youtek version but still not as solid as the PSTGT.

I haven't had a chance to try the Blade 18x20 but I am starting to get use to the 16x19 so I might just stick with that. I love everything about the 16x19 and will give it some more time to see if I can adjust. I just love how solid it feels and the generous sweet spot on it though slices are not as effective as the PSTGT. I will take both out for a test this weekend with both string up with the same string setup to get a better comparison.

As will I. I'm just having some more trouble with the PSTGT lately with whipping it through the contact zone on balls that are high or short. I don't know why now all of a sudden, but I think I'm going to try to aim for a racquet that might be a bit lighter statically.

I have both the Blade 18/20 and 16/19 and both aren't flooring me. Maybe I need some more time with them, but my demo time has run out I also had these 2 in multifilament strings so maybe I'll try to demo both of these again in a polyester setup. The 16/19 unfortunately popped on me on a shank so we'll see if I want to ask for another week with it.

Let me know how your comparison between 18/20 and 16/19 goes PS

[parasailing]

Originally Posted by mrmo1115

As will I. I'm just having some more trouble with the PSTGT lately with whipping it through the contact zone on balls that are high or short. I don't know why now all of a sudden, but I think I'm going to try to aim for a racquet that might be a bit lighter statically.

I have both the Blade 18/20 and 16/19 and both aren't flooring me. Maybe I need some more time with them, but my demo time has run out I also had these 2 in multifilament strings so maybe I'll try to demo both of these again in a polyester setup. The 16/19 unfortunately popped on me on a shank so we'll see if I want to ask for another week with it.

Let me know how your comparison between 18/20 and 16/19 goes PS

You might be coming to terms that you might need a lighter racquet. I have been swapping between TGK 260.2, PSTGT, and the Blade, and I think my arm is confused. I know I should stop messing around wtih all these racquets and just concentrate on one but it's so much fun trying out all these racquets.

I don't think I will try out the 18x20 given that I am starting to figure out the 16x19 and I never liked a 18x20 but I will definitely test out the difference between the PSTGT and Blade 98. My hitting partner say I hit a heavier ball using the PSTGT but I starting to love how the Blade 98 feels.

I hope TW professor puts up the stats on the Head Speed 2013 Graphene so at least I can compare how it performs against the other racquets.